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FYI: News Items of Interest, 2/20/2006 (1 item)
Compiled by Elise Boxer
Additional information about sources available at the end of the message.
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[1]
"Yaqui In Mexico Suffer Effects Of Toxic Pesticides Used In Agricultural
Fields." Brenda Norrell, Indian Country Today, February 20, 2006.
Copyright 2006 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved.
["Obregon, Mexico - Yaqui from Sonora, Mexico, are seeing an increase in
birth defects, while young people are dying from cancer after working
without protective clothing with pesticides in agricultural fields near
their villages. Francisco Villegas Paredes, Yaqui from Vicam village,
said doctors have confirmed that the birth defects and cancers are the
result of Yaquis working in fields where these dangerous pesticides and
chemicals - which have been banned in other countries - are being used by
farmers who lease Yaqui lands primarily for wheat and corn crops.
Describing the deformities of a 9-year-old child who sleeps face-down
because of a bone growth on his spine, Paredes said, 'It would make you so
sad to see these Yaqui children.' Pointing out that most of these
pesticides and chemical fertilizers are banned in the United States,
Canada and Europe, Paredes said the government of Mexico is allowing
dangerous pesticides and chemicals to be imported and used in Mexico
without warnings. 'Mexico knows these toxic chemicals are banned, but
allows other countries to come in and violate the laws,' Paredes told
Indian Country Today, speaking through a translator. 'In Mexico, there
are no strict regulations or environmental laws to protect the people. The
chemicals imported into Mexico should have warning signs on them. The
farmers should inform the workers that these chemicals are dangerous and
they should supply the workers with gloves, masks and protective
clothing.' Maria de los Angeles Verdia Matus, from Potom village, said
four Yaqui youths from her village died during the past five years from
working with the pesticides without wearing protective clothing or masks.
The youths worked in the fields at home spraying pesticides on weekends
and vacations from their studies at the universities in Obregon and
Hermosillo. When doctors confirmed that the brain tumors and cancers of
these youths were caused from the chemicals used in the fields, Yaqui
communities began take action. Struggling to find strength and support,
Paredes and Matus attended the 2006 International Indian Treaty Council
Conference at the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation in Okeechobee,
Fla., the second week of February. Matus said, 'All of this time, we
thought we were alone and we felt we couldn't continue to struggle alone.
But I saw that so many Indian people have the same problems and some
people came with problems worse than ours.' Worldwide, she said
indigenous are struggling for their land rights. 'We thought we were the
only ones fighting for our territory, but we found out that indigenous
people are fighting for their territory all over the world.' Around the
world, indigenous are being exposed to dangerous pesticides which
contaminate the air and waters. Those pesticides migrate and penetrate the
food chain, causing cancer, birth defects and other health problems,
according to the International Indian Treaty Council."]
For additional information please see: http://www.indiancountry.com
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FYI: News Items of Interest is a daily resource compiled by the H-AMINDIAN
staff. It features a sampling of news stories concerning Native issues in
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